First film in Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit”
Trilogy breaks multiple records in its opening
MANILA, Dec.
17, 2012 – “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” a production of New Line Cinema
and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), soared to the top of Philippine box
office in its opening weekend, earning P55-million on more than 300 screens,
including six IMAX theatres. That figure represents the biggest opening
ever for any film in the canon of “The Lord of the Rings.”
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. |
The announcement was made today by Francis Soliven,
General Manager of Warner Bros. (F.E.), Inc.
“The Hobbit:
An Unexpected Journey” is the acclaimed first film in Oscar®-winning filmmaker
Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit” Trilogy, based on the timeless novel by
J.R.R. Tolkien. Shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second, the film was released in
High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D) in select theaters, other 2D and 3D formats, and
IMAX®.
Soliven
stated, “Peter Jackson and his team of actors and filmmakers have delivered
another superb film in the canon he established with ‘The Lord of the Rings’
Trilogy. Audiences everywhere have been excited by the prospect of
returning to Middle-earth and these results speak to the incredible enthusiasm
out there for this new adventure.”
In the U.S.,
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” dominated the weekend with an estimated
$84.775 million domestically and $138.2 million internationally, for a
worldwide estimated total of $223 million, including a record-breaking $15.1
from IMAX theatres worldwide. Domestically, the film broke records for
largest December opening in motion picture history, including Christmas/holiday
weekends.
Back in the
Philippines, the top-performing cinemas are SM Mall of Asia (P4.16-M), SM North
EDSA (P3.16-M), Trinoma (P3.00-M), Greenbelt 3 (P2.22-M), SM Cebu (P2.16-M),
Glorietta 4 (P2.02-M), SM Megamall (P1.82-M), Power Plant (P1.73-M), Newport
(P1.64-M) and Eastwood (P1.53-M).
They are
followed closely by Alabang Town Center (P1.41-M), Gateway (P1.242-M), SM
Southmall (P1.241-M), Robinsons Galleria (P994,816), SM Clark (P940,995), Shang
Cineplex (P916,080), Robinsons Ermita (P850,310), Ayala Cebu (P849,474),
Robinsons Magnolia (P845,407) and Theatremall (P782,932).
From Academy
Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected
Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular
masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a
continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,”
which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the
blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the
Rings: The Return of the King.”
Ian McKellen
returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings”
Trilogy, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard
Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord
of the Rings” in “The Hobbit” Trilogy are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian
Holm as Old Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah
Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The international ensemble cast
of the Trilogy also includes James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Barry
Humphries, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Peter
Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen
Hunter, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Manu Bennett and Conan Stevens.
The
screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh &
Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, based on the
novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with
Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers
are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and
Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.
The creative
behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew included director of
photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers
Alan Lee and John Howe, editor Jabez Olssen, and makeup and hair designer Peter
Swords King. The costumes were designed by Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor
and Bob Buck. Taylor also oversaw the design and production of armour,
weapons, creatures and special makeup, which were once again made by the
award-winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital took on the visual effects for
the film, led by senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri. The visual
effects supervisor was Eric Saindon, with David Clayton serving as animation
supervisor. The film features the song “Song of the Lonely Mountain,”
performed by Neil Finn.
New Line
Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a WingNut Films Production,
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” All three films in “The Hobbit”
Trilogy, also including “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” and the final
film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” are productions of New Line Cinema
and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing
production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical
distribution, with select international territories as well as all
international television distribution being handled by MGM.
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